Barriere de l'Esseillon

Barriere de l'Esseillon was a defensive line with five forts, early 19th century in the town of Aussois were built to Savoy to defend that until the transfer to France for the Kingdom of Sardinia belonged.

Locations

The forts that bear the names of family members of the House of Savoy are:

Fort Victor-Emmanuel is the largest of the forts in which a garrison of 1500 men could be stationed ( location ).45.211957 6.736029
Fort Marie-Christine is the highest of the five forts. The fort has been completely restored and now houses a restaurant and a youth hostel ( location ).45.221437 6.73483
Redoute Marie-Thérèse is located alone on the left bank of the Arc , the fort has been completely restored and now houses a bar and a museum ( location ).45.208369 6.735618
Fort Charles-Félix , the only fort built in 1860 by order of Napoléon III. damaged in compliance with a clause in the Treaty of Turin. Today the fort is in ruins ( location ).45.216138 6.736258
Fort Charles-Albert was never completed ( location ).45.221967 6.742558

history

The forts were built between 1819 and 1834 with the help of the compensation that France had to pay to the Kingdom of Sardinia as a result of the Congress of Vienna . The barrier protected the access to Mont Cenis and made the Duchy of Savoy a buffer zone against France.

The forts were never drawn into fighting in the years that followed. The Treaty of Turin in 1860, in which Savoy was annexed to France, provided that France had to destroy the forts. However, this agreement was only implemented at Fort Charles-Félix. Rather, the French army repaired the remaining facilities to protect their country from an Italian invasion.

During the Second World War , the forts were occupied by the Kingdom of Italy . Fort Vittorio-Emmanuele became a prison for political prisoners, while Fort Maria-Teresa became a barracks for the Guardia di Finanza . After the armistice, Fort Vittorio-Emanuele was occupied by the Germans, who built a bunker there, from which they could fire on the national road. After the end of the war, the forts fell into disrepair, but are currently being gradually restored.